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The old, rusted clock on the wall of South Lafourche’s brightly-lit hallway reads 7 a.m., and the school’s head football coach Terry Farmer is already hard at work studying.
What’s on the coach’s eye isn’t film – although that will come later. It’s not the team’s opponent 12 hours from now, Terrebonne High School, either.
But he’s studying the behavior of the student’s arriving to school and the morale of his players as he begins his day working morning recess duty.
“Have you ever heard of the old saying about haze in a barn?” Farmer asks as he slowly glides the hall. “In the old days, when a farmer planted their crops and everything was done in time, they’d be able to sit back and just take a deep breath and relax. That’s Friday to us. The work is done. It’s just a matter of relaxing and waiting for the game to begin.”
A “relaxed day” for Farmer is a 16-hour process, lasting from that morning recess duty all the way through 10 and sometimes 11 p.m. when that evening’s game ends.
During the school day, he’s a jack-of-all-trades. When the kids are out of the classroom for the day, it’s all about fine-tuning last-second preparation for the ever-important big game.
And ultimately it all ends the same place where it begins – on Memorial Stadium’s gridiron for a postgame pep talk with his players following the game.
SportsNet’s Casey Gisclair spent Friday observing Coach Farmer’s game day routine.
And below is a timeline of how the 2009 District 8-5A Coach of the Year allots his time on the day of that big game.
Timeline:
7 a.m.: Recess duty – Coach Farmer makes sure no one is acting out of line in the halls. Along the way, he’s meeting and greeting faculty who are almost certain to wish him luck during their conversation. Farmer is also greeting his players as they arrive and giving them words of wisdom to get their day off on the proper footing.
7:25 a.m.: Opening bell rings the start to the school day
7:33 a.m.: Rubbing shoulders with the principal – Walking in the halls on his way to his office, Farmer encounters South Lafourche High School Principal Aubrey “Bubba” Orgeron. Farmer updates Orgeron on the team’s week of practice.
“We had a good week,” the coach said. “Another good week. We’ll see if we can play four quarters today.”
7:40 a.m.: Meeting with the band and athletic director to finalize game day plans
7:53 a.m.: Home sweet home – Finally in the comforts of his office, Farmer walks in on assistant coach Jared Landrum already polishing up on some film study.
The Tarpons’ game plan is well in place, but Landrum is looking for anything the staff might have missed.
“You’d be surprised the small things you pick up rewatching something a fourth and fifth time,” Landrum said.
As the coach studies Terrebonne, Farmer rotates in and out of his office checking e-mails, before eventually cutting out his color-coded cards that he’ll use this week to give symbols to the team.
9 a.m.: Coach Farmer “juices up” – With healthy living on his mind, Landrum and Farmer “juice up.” But the LHSAA can stay cool under the collar, as the juice is from vegetables and fruits Landrum grinds through a food processor. Farmer said Landrum is a veteran to the “juice,” and he’s beginning to come around, too.
“You know, I’ve felt great all week,” Farmer told his assistant coach.
9:05 a.m.: Class – Farmer is one of two teachers in a Business Computer Applications class. In the classroom, the coach sheds some of the game day stress, dancing with his fellow teacher during a break to amuse the class and sharing jokes with the students.
10:40 a.m.: Bus Ramp Duty/Girls’ basketball practice/lunch – Farmer plays three hats, patrolling the bus ramp, while navigating through his lunch – one piece of fried cafeteria chicken. When the girls’ basketball team is dressed, the coach puts the team through a flurry of shooting drills, as well as some time in the weight room. The South Lafourche community equates Farmer to football. But the first-year girls’ basketball coach said he knows his roundball, too.
“My first job was actually coaching basketball,” he said.
As for his first season back in action? The coach isn’t sure about what to expect just yet.
“We’re young,” he said. “But we’ve got some kids who can play.”
Noon: Basketball practice ends
12:02 p.m.: Finalize starting lineups – Back in his office, the switch is flipped and it’s all football now, as Farmer adjusts the team’s depth chart and officially sets the Tarpons’ starting lineup for the game.
12:15 p.m.: Moral support – Farmer takes a quick stroll to the stadium to check on the field – a six-and-a-half-hour creation from assistant coach Scott Sanamo. On the way, he also stops to meet and greet the team’s loyal tailgaters who turn out every game to have a good time.
“We love you guys,” Farmer says as he gives his parting words. “Thanks so much for coming!”
Back in his office, the coach shuffles through his phone, juggling text and voice mail messages from his former players who are lending him support on game day.
“We have so many kids – especially from last year’s team – who miss it so bad,” Farmer said. “They miss being in the process and being with these guys.”
12:45 p.m.: Final walkthrough – With fourth hour PE in session, Farmer has the football players with him. The team reports to the Tarpons’ gymnasium for one final walkthrough of the plan for that night’s game.
2 p.m.: Address to the team – Farmer gives a pep talk following the walkthrough, outlining the keys to victory in five hours.
2:15 p.m.: Team break
2:30 p.m.: Pregame devotion and meal – The Tarpons receive pregame spiritual words from a youth minister and enjoy the treasures of the tailgating, shrimp jambalaya.
3:15 p.m.: Pregame rest – The Tarpons enjoy movies shown on four different televisions in the field house. Some players watch, others nap. Farmer sneaks into his office to “try and steal 20 minutes,” but the coach said he wasn’t able to sleep. He said he usually never does.
“I was just sitting in there,” he said. “Just watching a little film and sitting in the quiet. Getting my mind right.”
5 p.m.: Getting dressed – The break is over and the Tarpons are trading their sweat shorts and T-shirts for their uniform tops and pants. Anyone needing tape or physical assistance is getting it, as well.
5:15 p.m.: The final meeting – The Tarpons’ offense, defense and special teams hold their final meetings before Farmer addresses the team one last time before they get their pads and helmets and head to the practice field.
“Let’s get back to hitting tonight, guys,” Farmer tells the Tarpons. “Let’s be proud to play football again.”
With several Tarpons holding heavy hearts following the tragedy at Vandebilt Catholic High School, the coach also remembered one of our area’s recent fallen when speaking to the team.
“Play this one for T.J.,” he said. “He’s watching you, guys. I promise you, he’s going to be watching. Go out and play for him. Make T.J. proud.”
6 p.m.: Light stretching/pregame activities – The Tarpons do light cardio activity on the team’s practice field.
6:20 p.m.: Tarpon Walk – The team walks from the field house to Memorial Stadium escorted by the band and paraded by hundreds of Tarpon supporters who greet the team as it walks toward the field.
Farmer trails the back of the line, giving hi-fives to the fans, especially the younger children.
6:30 p.m. – Pregame drills and stretching
7 p.m.: Kickoff – The source of all the hard work is here. The 0-4 Tarpons are set to tangle with arguably our area’s best – the 4-0 Terrebonne Tigers.
8 p.m.: Halftime adjustments – The first half went Terrebonne’s way, as they took a 13-6 advantage. But Farmer preached persistence to his team at the break, while also slightly tweaking the team’s scheme.
“Finish it, guys,” Farmer said. “It’s out there for us. Someone’s just got to make a play.”
8:19 p.m.: The second half begins
9:26 p.m.: Another game complete – The Tarpons fought and gave Terrebonne their toughest challenge of the season, but the Tigers won a 34-25 ball game. Even in defeat, Farmer was upbeat for his team, urging the team to give applause to their younger players and to their offensive line.
“We finished, guys,” Farmer said. “We played until the last second. That’s what we asked.”
With his team now 0-5, the coach knows the instinct to give up or quit. He worked to shoot that down as soon as the final whistle sounded.
“Seniors, I’m not giving up on you,” Farmer said. “These young guys aren’t giving up on you, either. We’re getting there. We’re close. Someone just needs to make a big play. This one hurts inside. I can promise you I’m hurting inside right now.”
The team then shares one final prayer before Farmer closes the meeting and the night with three words.
“I love you,” he tells his team before sending them on their way – until Monday when he’ll see them again.
9:57 p.m.: Cycle reset – This game is over and Farmer is now in his office again preparing already for the cycle to restart on next week’s game. For the coach, it’s just another day in the life.
South Lafourche High School football coach Terry Farmer gives support to his team at halftime of Friday’s game against Terrebonne. CASEY GISCLAIR
